Thread-unwinding device for sewing-machines



(No Model.)

M. B. RBIGH. THREAD UNWINDING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES.

No. 485,136. Patented 0ct 25, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARK B. REIGII, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE VVILLI- MANTICLINEN COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

THREAD-UNWINDING DEVICE FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 485,136 dated October25, 1892.

Application filed May 26,1892. Serial No. 434,499. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARK B. REIGH, of Boston,in the county of Suffolkand State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Thread-Unwinders, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, whereby any one skilled in the art canmake and use the same.

My invention relates to the class of devices that are used to support amass of thread, either in spool form or wound upon a bobbin or spindlein proper manner to be used as a supply for a sewing-machine or for likepurposes. V

The object of my invention is to provide a device of this class thatshall enable the supply of thread to be delivered in such manner as toenable a perfect control of the tension to be maintained, and also toembody in the device a take-up mechanism that will operate to preserve asubstantially-uniform tension of the thread while it is being withdrawnfrom the bobbin.

To this end the invention consists in the details of the several partsmaking up the device as a whole and in their combination, as moreparticularly hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a detail top view of a deviceembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail end view of the same withparts broken away to show the interior construction. Fig. 3 is a detailview with the end of the box broken away, illustrating the method ofoperation of the device. Fig. at is a detail view, on enlarged scale,showing the connection between the thread-guide and the clutch part.

In the accompanying drawings the letter a denotes a box or framethatserves as a support for the mass of thread 19. The thread is wound upona spindle c, that has upon its opposite ends journals that are adaptedto rest in the supports d d, formed at opposite ends of the frame orbox. These supports (1 d are made up of a part 6, rigidly secured to thebox or frame and containing a portion of the spindle-socket, and theother end of the spindle-socket is formed in the end of a yieldingclutch part f, that is pivoted to a fixed portion of the support in suchmanner as to bind with a yielding pressure upon the ends of the spindlethat are held in the spindlesupports. The clutch part is held with abinding force upon the spindle of the bobbin by means of springs f, solocated as to operate to force the socketed portion of the clutch partdown upon the spindle when the parts are in position for use.

A thread-guideg, formed, preferably, of wire, extends lengthwise alongthe mass of thread and is attached to the clutch parts at each end. lhisthread-guide is made so as to yield under the pull of a piece of threadthat is drawn over it, and it yields until it reaches a point Where thetension becomessufiicient to release to a degree the hold of the clutchparts upon the spindle by withdrawing the socket end of such part out ofcontact with the ends of the spindle. This is effected in the form shownby pivoting the thread-guide to each of the clutch parts and arranging aspring It so as to thrust against the guide and keep it at the upperlimit of its swinging movement. The guide is forced outward and downwardagainst the pressure of this spring and by the pull upon the thread thatis passed over the guide. It is the recoil of this thread-guide underthe impulse of the spring that serves as a take-up and enables a uniformtension to be maintained as the thread is supplied to the needle, as inthe operation of a sewingmachine.

The device herein illustrated is especially adapted for use inconnection with a boot or shoe stitching machine.

By the use of this device a very light tension can be maintained uponthe thread and a greater uniformity of the tension is secured. It isalso possible to operate a machine successfully under a much lesstension of the thread than is possible with prior devices of the class.

In the form shown a guard 71 extends from clutch part to clutch part atthe ends of the mass of thread and is practically coextensive with andoverlies the threadguide. This guard serves a purpose in connection witha device that 1s connected with a cover secured to the machine, ofunclamping the spindle when it is desired to freely withdraw any considerable length of thread. It also servesa like purpose when it isdesired to open the sockets wide enough to permit the removal of the oldbobbin or the insertion of a new bobbin. 7 V i I claim as myinvention 1. In a thread-unwinder, in combination with the frame forsupporting a mass of thread, socket-pieces secured to the frame andhaving formed therein a portion of the socket for the spindle of thebobbin, the yielding clutch parts, each containing aportion of thebobbinsocket and mounted in operative relation to the fixed portions ofthe socket, and the threadguide attached to and havingayielding movementindependent of the movement of the clutch parts and extending from endto end of the mass of thread, all substantially as described. V

2; In an unwinder, in combination with the frame or support, the socketparts secured thereto, the yielding clutch parts adapted to grasp thespindle of the bobbin, the threadguide pivoted at its opposite ends tothe respective clutch parts and having a limited swinging movementindependent of the movements of the clutch part, and the springs wherebythe yielding thread-guide is held at one limit of its play, allsubstantially as described.

MARK B. REIGH.

Witnesses:

GEO. R. FOWLER, JOHN T. KENNEY.

